Homewood Suites by Hilton Laredo at Mall del Norte

We had a quiet, comfortable stay for the most part. The room was roomy, and my wife and I both liked the bedding and pillows. There are plenty of shops and restaurants within walking distance. The fire alarm did go off a few times on the day we arrived, but luckily it didn't disturb our sleep.

The mattress felt like it was stuffed with hay, straight out of an episode of Gunsmoke. It has more of a flop house feel than a merely run-down place, and it's overpriced. Marshall Dillon might as well be out front offering a bed at the jail or the livery stables.

We'd stayed at several Homewood Suites around the country, but this was the most disgusting stay I've had. Our first-floor suite, #118, had a damp, musty smell when we arrived after midnight. In the morning we found a German roach in the kitchen and another in the bathroom. The front desk let us switch rooms. The second-floor room had dead roaches behind the sofa, while the third-floor one, #320, had dead moths in the corners but no roaches, so we chose that one. The next day I spotted a live German roach in the kitchen, and that was the end of my eating the included breakfast. Trash pickup was another problem. We left our garbage in plastic bags outside the door, but after three days it was still there, so I finally carried it to the elevator garbage can myself. We also asked twice during our six-night stay for the living room to be vacuumed. Both times we had to call the front desk more than once, and the second request took over five hours. On our last morning, we were looking for a missing sock and lifted the bed skirt. There was a pile of feces under the bed, probably from a dog or cat from an earlier stay. It was extremely disgusting, and we won't stay at Homewood again. Last year we were next door at the Embassy Suites, where our room and the common areas were very clean. I hope Homewood Suites in Laredo does better for future guests.

Stephanie at the front desk went above and beyond, and the staff overall were friendly, professional, and courteous. The hotel was quiet, clean, and well kept. I only wish they kept the lights on for the complimentary coffee and water. The tubs and toilets could also use an upgrade.